The Canterbury Pilgrims | Page 7

goodly knight equipped for the fray.
The entertainment was princely. I cannot tell you of the feasts, and the minstrelsy, nor of the great gifts to high and low; neither can I describe to you the fairness of the ladies and their graceful dancing; nor the hounds that lay upon the floor, and the hawks who perched aloft. It was all wondrous indeed. Such feasting and splendour had ne'er been known before.
At last the great day of the tournament came. At dawn Palamon arose and went to sacrifice to Venus in her temple, and ask her help. "I care not, goddess, whether in fight I win the laurels," he said. "For me it is enough if she whom I love, the lady Emily, look on me kindly and grant me her love. Help me, great goddess, help me. Never shalt thou have a truer servant than I." Great was his joy when after some delay the statue of Venus shook, for by this sign Palamon understood that his prayer would be answered.
With the uprising of the sun, Emily herself also arose, bathed herself in clear cool water, and went to ask Diana's help. "I would rather be a maid all my life, and run and leap in the fields and woods," she said, "but if the gods will that I be given to one of these knights who desire me, O grant that I be given to him who loves me most!" Thereat a marvellous thing happened; for one of the two fires on the altar suddenly died down, but quickly leaped up in flame again, while the other as suddenly died down and drops of blood oozed from the dying embers. The statue of Diana shook and rattled the arrows in its quiver, while the goddess herself appeared. "It is the will of the gods you marry one of these men," she said, "but I may not as yet declare which." And so she vanished.
"I am in thy hands, Diana!" cried Emily. "Grant me at least thy protection."
An hour later Arcite' went to the temple of the terrible God of War. "O Mars," he prayed, "grant me victory in the fight this day, and evermore I will serve thee." At this the rings of the temple doors clanged, the very walls rang, while the fire on the altar blazed bright in the gloom. From the earth rose a sweet savour. The statue of Mars itself shook, and murmured "Victory." The walls and armour re-echoed, "Victory."
Arcite rose up from his prayer glad and confident, and went to prepare for the fight.
Never was such excitement before. On every hand was noise of bolting of armour, buckling of helms, bridling of horses, sounding of trumpets, pawing of steeds; rushing here to see a fine prince and his retinue, rushing there to see a fine new banner and shield; and over all the bright sun of a fresh May morning. Some were sure Arcite would win, some favoured Palamon, but whatever the event of the day, all knew that ere the sun set many a deed of valour would be done, and many a gallant knight show his prowess.
At an early hour Theseus himself in all his royal robes appeared at his palace window, and all the folk hastened thither to see him and hear his will. The royal herald mounted a high scaffold. "Ho! Ho!" he cried. "Hear the will of Theseus the great duke! For inasmuch as it were destructive to gentle blood to fight a mortal battle this day, he that shall be overcome shall not be slain, but shall be brought to the stakes which are at either end of the lists. There, brought by force, shall he abide, nor take any further part in fighting. If and when the chieftain on either side be taken, then shall we declare the tourney over and award the prize. Go forth, good people, go forth! This is my lord's will!" Loud were the people's cheers, and at once the processions began. Theseus with his queen and Emily and all his royal court led the way. Palamon followed with his hundred knights in battle array, with white plumes and banners waving in the wind. Next came Arcite with his knights under red pennons. Oh! it was a sight to gladden the heart of a man! Such colour, such workmanship in arms, such skill in riding, such knightly bearing, and to crown all, such beauty!
And now the companies enter the lists and are lined up two deep, facing one another. The heralds' trumpets sound, the names of the combatants are read and the gates closed.
Once more the trumpets blare, the heralds call "To your places, knights," and the fight begins. The combatants rush together. Swords flash, spears are set in rest. Here one is